Rebbe - Hasidic Movements

Hasidic Movements

In Israel, some of the best known Hasidic groups are those of Belz, Boston, Chabad-Lubavitch, Ger, Karlin, Kaliv, Nadvorna, Slonim, Vizhnitz, and Dushinsky, each having their own Rebbe. Some of the larger or better known chasidic groups in the United States of America are Bobov, Chabad-Lubavitch, Klausenburg, Lubavitch, Munkatch, Puppa, Satmar, Skulen, Skver, Tshernobl. A more complete list of chasidic groups can be found here.

Some Hasidic rebbes have thousands of followers, or disciples, called Hasidim, whilst others may number only a few hundred. Some rebbes have only a title, but do not have a following beyond their own family members and a few congregants in their synagogues. Rebbes often have a synagogue or beis medrash (study hall) where they pray, learn, and interact with their Hasidim.

Rebbes are usually called by the Yiddish name of the geographic region in which they or their predecessors gained prominence: e.g., the first Bobover Rebbe lived in Bobowa, Poland, the first Skulener Rebbe lived in Sculeni, Bessarabia, the first Munkatcher Rebbe in Munkacs, Ukraine and the first Bostoner Rebbe, served as a rebbe in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Breslover Hasidim do not have a living rebbe, but continue to follow the previous rebbe of the movement. In the case of Lubavitch, this is Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn; in the case of Breslov, it is the founder of the group, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.